In an unexpected turn of events, we're seeing 'FUD' being spread about Microsoft, for once. Lots of articles on the web highlighting how the support lifecycle for Window Phone 7/8 and 8 is to end in July 2014, as if WP8 devices won't be getting any updates beyond that point. This already seemed unlikely early to me, and with my magical unicorn powers of, you know, common sense I already made the assumption that this only applies to versions 7.8 and 8.0 - not 8.5 or 9.0 or whatever the next version will be. WMPowerUser shares my unicorn powers: "On the other hand the OS support date is reset with any never version of the OS, so a Windows Phone 8.5 or 9 update in November 2013 would bring along its own 18 month of security updates. Microsoft has already promised all current Windows Phone 8 handsets will receive the next major version of the operating system."

The Verge and WMPoweruser (not "WMPowerUser") did not post contradicting articles.

Microsoft has promised to release updates for the next major operating system release for all current WP8 devices. The Verge argues that whether users will actually receive these updates is dependent on OEMs and carriers.

As usual, I think The Verge has a decent writeup. Microsoft's trouble is that their promised things would be different.

Largely, people wouldn't care that this is happening because it already happens with Android, but the crucial difference is that Microsoft promised a better way.

I think they got too ahead of themselves and said something that they couldn't realistically deliver. Microsoft didn't have the influence to do all of that. No one, save for Apple really does.

What I think has changed with WP8, and it is a positive change, is that Microsoft can push out updates with less carrier discretion if the changes are not major. You've seen WP8 devices receive numerous OS and firmware updates since launch. The fact that these updates come from Microsoft directly through Windows Update is encouraging.

So far, so good for WP8 devices. Also, Microsoft still is set to unveil an opt-in preview program for Windows Phone users to enable them to get major updates faster, bypassing carrier restrictions.